Reject Rigidity. Accept Flow!
She laid stretched out on the marble dance floor listening to her instructor guide the class through a pointe and flex series. Feeling the room vibrate, my attention was drawn to a young woman who appeared to be pulling in comfort as she flexed and releasing stress when she pointed. It was a foot exercise designed not merely to warm up the feet but engage the breath. Her tummy is trembling…what is she carrying? Stretched like a star she felt gravity pull her in close….to the floor. She didn’t fight to get up but allowed the space to envelop her. “Think about the picture that came to mind during this exercise and use it to pick yourself up from the floor,” her instructor softly spoke.
She grabbed her core using her pelvis and shared her weight with the floor realizing it was her friend. Creating spirals, circles and abstract shapes she emerged from the floor with poise and grace. I watched the percussive sound travel to her belly and poke it like a needle bursting a water balloon. Tears rolled down her face forming its own pattern. Refusing to wipe the puddle forming at her chin, she made it apart of the dance. Snapping her fingers in harmony with the drum, the instructor created an invisible bubble that no one could penetrate unless you were of like heart, mind and spirit. It was a world within a world. “Now that you’re up from the floor, walk around the room very slowly. Make sure you see each other…look at someone,” she urged through the snaps. The young woman took one step forward, began moving her head counter clockwise and responded to a soft tap on her shoulder. I witnessed an exchange of sadness be transformed and morphed into something beautiful- something the young woman was no longer carrying on her own. Rejecting the desire to exit the room or fight the tears and stiffen her movement, with each exhale her moves grew lighter but maintained its strength. Feeling this new space she lifted her art in one hand, her alter in another and like a magnet her hands were drawn together in prayer. “That was amazing. You guys look awesome. I’m honored to be your teacher,” I heard echoed in the background. “Would anyone like to share what they got from that experience? Tell me and the group what you liked.” I raised my hand while standing and said, “This was just what I needed. It felt like I was having an outer body experience because I typically hold a lot in but the space felt safe for me to dance free and work through my challenges with the dancers around me. “Yes, yes, yes…thank-you for sharing,” she smiled and said. Then stretching her arms along the barre with her legs crossed, she said, “Anyone else?”
Written By: SADE E. MOORE™